Pneumatically operated picker mechanism for looms



y 7 1953 c. G. scoT'r 2,644,489

PNEUMATICALLY OPERATED PICKER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed Dec. 11. 1950' 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Charles 6. Scan INVENTOR.

C. G. SCOTT July 7, .1953

PNEUMATICALLY OPERATED PICKER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed Dec. 11. 1950 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Charles 6. Scott INVENTOR.

BY (may y 7. 1953 c. G. SCOTT 2,644,489

PNEUMATICALLY OPERATED PICKER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Patented July 7, 1953S PATENT OFFICE PNEUMATICALLY OPERATED PIGKER- MECHANISM FOR LOOMSCharles Scott, Kingsport, Tenn. 4 Application December 11, 1950, SerialNo. 200,147

This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in apneumatically operated picker mechanism for looms and more specificallypertains to an air pressure operated mechanism capable of imparting acontrolled and adjustable stroke to the picker stick of looms insynchronization with the operation of the loom.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an air pressureoperated mechanism for actuating the loom picker stick inproperly timedrelation to the motion of the loom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device in conformitywith the preceding object in which the stroke of the same shall becapable of adjustment and of variations in timing as required.

Yet another object of. the invention is to provide an air pressureoperating means as set forth in the foregoing objects in which themoving parts shall have a more efficient cooperation witheach other tothe end that a more serviceable and dependable mechanism isprovided andone which shall have a longer life in operation.

These, together with various ancillary features and objects of theinvention, which will later part of the latch operating mechanism and ofthe carriage forming part of the invention;

become apparent as the following description proceeds; are attained bythe present invention, a preferred embodiment of which has beenillustrated, by way of example only, in the' accompanying drawings,wherein:

"Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the air pressure operating meansof a picker stick-in accordance with the present invention,the'mechanism being shown in the position when the air pressure supplyvalve is open and the device is ready to actuate a picker stick from itsnormal rest position;

-Figure 2' is an end elevational view of the mechanism shown in Figure 1being taken from the right end thereof;

v Figure 3 is a View taken in end elevation from the left end of theview of the device as shown in Figure 1;" I

Figure 4 is an end elevational view taken upon an' enlarged scale,substantially upon the plane indicated by the broken section line i4 ofFigure 1 and showing in particular the construction of thelatchmechanism of the invention;

Figure 5 is a view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by thesection line v5'--5 of Figure 2 and showing in vertical central sectionthe position of the parts when the device is in the position of Figure1;

Figureo is a side elevational view of a portion of the mechanism andshowing in particular a a Figure '7 is a view similar to'Figure 5 butshowing the position of the parts at the other end of the stroke, theexhaust valve being open and the intake valve closed; and,

Figures 8 and 9 are vertical transverse sectional views takensubstantially from the plane indicated by the section lines 88 and 99respectively of Figure 7, these views being taken in the directionsindicated by the arrows.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings, whereinlike numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, itwill be seen that the picker operating mechanism forming the subject ofthis invention includes an air pressure operated cylinder and pistonassembly Which is adapted to be mounted upon, a portion of the frame ofa loom and is operatively connected with a power shaft of the loomwhereby the mechanism is operated in timed relation to the motion of theloom, and is further operatively connected with a picker stick forming apart of a picker stick mechanism of a loom.

The principles of this invention and the embodiment illustrated, areobviously capable of operation with conventional forms of looms, theoperating mechanism of the same, and in particular with thepicker stickmechanism thereof. As is well known, it is necessary to impart aperiodic, or fully timed, reciprocatory motion transverse of the loom toa picker stick durin the operation of the loom. Heretofore, variousmechanical linkages have been employed to effect the desired operationof the-picker stick. It has also been heretofore'proposed to employ airpressure forgiving the desired motion. However, such means have not beenheretofore entirely satisfactory since it has been diilicult to accu:rately and properly time the actuation of the picker stick by the airpressure operatin means; as well as to vary the amplitude of movement ofthe operating means and to control the same in a synchronized andautomatic manner.

"The fundamental purpose of the present invention is to provide an airpressure operated mechanism whose timing, amplitude of stroke andposition of stroke maybe accurately and precisely adjusted andcontrolled and automatically effected from the rotation of anyconventional rotating shaft of "a loom from which power may be obtainedin proper synchronization with the motion of the loom.

[.In the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that there has beenprovided an air pressure thereon as by adjusting nuts 24 and 26,, acarriage. indicated generally by the numeral 28 and which.

has removably secured thereto as by fastening bolt 39, a laterallyextending lug $2 adapted to abut and impart oscillation to a picker.stick of any conventional form, not shown. In order to understand thepurposes, construction and operation of the present invention, it ismerely necessary to understand that the carriage 28 which isreciprocated. by movement of the piston 20, imparts its rectilinear,reciprocatory motion to a picker stick a, portionv of which is shown at3.2.

At any convenient portion along its length, the

cylinder I8 is provided with a passage 34 havingaport 36 opening intothe interior of the cylinder, the port 36 being so placed as to vent theinterior of the cylinder between the adjacent surfaces of the plug l 6.and the piston in order to avoid a dashpot efiect. during thereciprocation. of. the piston.

Referring now more particularly to the construction and mounting of thecarriage 28, especial attention is invited to the showing in Figures 6and 8. Here it. will be seen that the carriage consists of a yoke orU-shaped member having a pair of arms 38 and 40 which are integrallyconnected at one end by a. vertically disposed web portion or bar. 42.,the. upper arm.38 being preferably longer than the lower arm. 40 for apurpose which will be later set forth. These arm are adapted to slidablyembrace the opposite sides of the cylinder Ii! for relative sliding andguided movement thereon. For that purpose, as shown more. clearly inFigures '7 and 8, the cylinder l0 whose perimeter may. be a square asshown in Figure 8, is provided on a pair of opposite sides, such as theupper and lower surfacesof the same, with 9. extending guide channels44' and, 46. The upper and lower arms 38. and 40 are provided with cor"-respondingly shaped depending, longitudinally extending ribs 48 and 50constituting keys or retaining means which are slidably received andretained within the channels 44 and 46, and which may be inserted fromthe open right hand end of these guide channels as suggested in Figure7. The channel and key arrangement prevents relative rotation betweenthe carriage and the cylinder.

As shown more clearly in Figures 5, 6 and-7, the lower yoke arm 40 ofthe carrier is provided at its outer end with a thickened portion 52from which forwardly extends an adjusting bolt 54 adjust-ably attachedthereto as by a lock nut 56. The adjusting bolt 54 constitutes anadjustable operatingmeans or actuator for the inlet valve mechanism tobe hereinafter described. The end of the other arm 38 in itselfconstitutes an abutment surface or operating means. for the pressureexhaust valve operating mechanism as set forth hereinafter.

Referring now to. Figures 2 and. 3. it'willbe apparent that theairpressure operated cylinder pair of dove-tail shaped longitudinallyandpiston may be detachably secured to a portion of the frame of the loom,the frame being indicated at 58, by suitable fastening bolts or the like60.

A latch means is provided for retaining the air pressure operated pistonand the carriage attached thereto at the inner end or inoperativeposition of their stroke and releasing the same for air pressureoperation in timed relation to the operation or motion of the loom. Thislatch means, and its operating mechanism, shown best in Figures 4 and 6,consists of an actuator or latch bar in the form of a yoke 62 having apair of latching arms 64 and an arcuate midportion 66. The latch armsare reciprocable in chambers (0 suitably formed in housings 12 carriedby the side of the cylinder Ill and are provided within the chambers 10with collars or shoulders 68. A compression spring '14 is seated in eachof the chambers 10 and surrounds the latch arm 64, to engage one end ofthe chamber and the collar or shoulder 68 to thereby yieldingly urge thelatch bars and the entire yoke into the latching position, whereby, asshown in Figures 2 and 4, the ends of the latch bars are disposed acrossandin the path of travel of the carriage yoke, web or cross bar 42.

It will now be apparent that the springs normally urge the latch barsinto latching position until the yoke is positively withdrawn by a poweroperated means to be subsequently described. The outer sides of the endsof the latch bars may be provided with beveled camming surfaces 16whereby the inward'travel of the web portion 42 of the carriage yoke, onstriking the camming surfaces, will momentarily move the latch barslaterally to permit the carriage to move past them and to reach itsinnermost position, after which the spring-urged latch will retain thecarriage in its inward position until positively released as set forthhereinafter.

Journalled in suitable bracketsv along the side of the cylinder l 0, onesuch bracket being shown at 18, is a rotatable latch shaft having abeveled gear 82 at one end which meshes with. a beveled. gear 84 carriedby a lay shaft 86 which is adapted to connect, in any desired manner notshown, with one of therotating shafts of the loom to operate thelatching shaft 80 in synchronization with motion of the loom. Thelatching shaft Ell extends within the yoke 62 and adjacent the arcuate.portion 66 at the middle thereof, as

shown more clearly in Figure 4, and is provided with an operating cam88.

It will now be apparent from Figures 4. and 6' that'the shaft 80 will beoperating. in timed relation to the operation of the loom, and by thecam 88, the latch will be withdrawn in proper synchronization with theloom motion to release the air pressure operated cylinder, piston andcarriage for properly timed operation of the picker stick.

Attention is now directed more specifically to Figures 5 and '7 for anunderstanding of the construction andoperation of the air pressuresupply and exhaust means for the air pressure operated cylinder l0, andthe control mechanism therefor.

Adjacent the cylinder head l2, a side wall of the cylinder is providedwith an air pressure inlet port or passage 90 which communicates with aregistering passage 92 extending through a valve housing 94 having acover plate 96 and which is removably attached. to the cylinder as byfastening bolt or. the like 98. A fiat, plate valve I00 is. slidablyreceived. in. the valve housing 94 and in turnis provided with a valveport I02 which is adapted "to register, during reciprocation of thevalve,,with a passage-92 inthe valve housing and with an inlet passageI04 extending through the valve housing cover plate 90 and communicatingwith an air pressure supmove'the rocker from engagement with the valveply conduit I06 connected with any suitable conventional sourceofairsupply, not shown.

It will be seen from Figures 5 and 'lthat the -passages 90, 92, I04 andthe conduit I06 are aligned with each other so that once during eachreciprocation of the valve I00, the valve passage I02 will establishcommunication from the in terior of the cylinder I0 to the'source of airsup- I The valve I00 is provided atoneend with a valve stem I08 which isencircled by a compression spring I I0'and' whose opposite ends abutshoulders on the valve plate I00 and a spring seating plate I I2 securedto the cylinder head as by fastening screws II4. It'will thus be seenthe valve is spring urged, as shown in Figure '7, to its closed positionbut may be opened by be-' ing moved against theresistance of its springuntil the passage I02 aligns with the otherpa'ssages above mentioned. Tooperate the air supply valve I00 in adjustable and properly timedrelation to the position and movement of the carriage 28 and a pickerstick actuated thereby, one end of the valve I00 is exposed beyond theend of the valve housing 94' into the path of travel of the operatingand adjusting screw54.

, valve will be normally maintained in open position by the actuator.

From-the foregoing, it will now-be apparent that with the piston, thecarrier and the arm 38 displaced from their inward position, the arm 38will be out of contact with the adjusting screw I40, atwhich time thespring I44 and the rocker arm I26 will override the spring I22 andmaintain theexhaust valve in its open position.

When, however, the piston, the carrier and the arm 38 have moved apredetermined distance toward their'inward position, the actuator rockerat I will be removed from contact with the valve stem, whereupon thespring I22 will be permitted and will be, effective to close the valve II6. Obviously, adjustment of the screw I will regulatev the time atwhich and during which the'exhaust valve is opened and closed.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the air pressure supply tothe cylinder and the air pressure exhaust therefrom may be accuratelyadjusted and regulated in reference to the time and extent of thepiston, and conse- ,quently of the carriersecured to the piston and Itwill now be seen, that when the carriage is at 7 its inward position, asshown in Figure '5, theactuating and adjusting screw 54 will abut theend position as shown in Figure 5. Obviously, by properly adjusting thescrew 54. the precise time at which the air supply valve I00 can beopened and closed may be accurately regulated and adjusted. It will befurther'appreciated that the of the valve I00, and urge the latter toits open proper adjustment of the piston rod I8 upon the Q yoke web 42by the adjusting nuts 24 and 26,

will further facilitate the adjustment of the piston position relativeto the operation of the valve.

The air pressure exhaust, valve comprises a poppet valve IIB adapted tocooperate with a conical valve seat. I I8 formed in the inner surface ofthe cylinder head I2, this valve being provided with a valve stem, I20extending through the cylinder head and being surrounded by acompression spring I22 which normally urges the valve to its closedposition. The valve controls suitable exhaust passages I24 formed at thecyl-. inder head I2 and communicating with the valve seat I I8 as shown.

As just mentioned, the spring I22 normally yieldingly urges the valveIIS into its closed position. However, a valve actuator is operativelyassociated with the exhaust valve, this actuator conveniently comprisesa rocker I26 having an intermediate arcuate portion I20 and an extremityI30 which is adapted to abut the end of the valve stem I20 for operatingthe same. The other end of the rocker I26 is secured as by fasteningbolts or the like I32 to a block I34 pivotally mounted as at I36 betweena pair of mounting brackets I 38 carried by the side of the cylinder I0.An adjusting screw screw-threadedly engaged in the block I34 and lockedin adjusted position therein as by a locknut I42. The adjusting screwI40 is disposed in the pathof travel of the end of the arm 38, wherebythe screw, the block I34 and the rocker I26 may be oscillated about thepivot I36 to re- I40 is I the picker stick mechanism of the stickconnected with the carrier.

, From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device willbe readily understood and further explanation is believed to beunnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction shown and described,andaccordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may beresorted to, falling Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A picker mechanism for looms comprising a I valve operating means iscarried by the carriage.

3. The combination of claim 1 in which said carriage is slidable aboutsaid cylinder and said mechanism includes means preventing relativerotation of said carriage and cylinder.

4; A picker mechanism for looms comprising a fluid pressure cylinderhaving a piston slidable therein, a carriage connected to said pistonfor movement therewith, means on said carriage for actuating a loompicker upon reciprocation of said carriage, fluid pressure supply meansand fluid pressure exhaust means for said cylinder, a valve controllingsaid supply means, operating means for said valve operable in timedrelation to movement of said carriage, said fluid pressure exhaust meanscomprising an exhaust valve, means resiliently urging said exhaust valveto closed position, a valve actuator yieldingly urged to normallyoverride said resilientv means and maintain said exhaust valve open,and; means operative upon movement of said, carriage apredetermineddistance in one direction to render said valve actuator inoperative,whereby said resilient means is effective: to close saidvalve.

5, A picker mechanism for looms comprisinga fluid pressure. cylinderhaving a piston slidable therein, a carriage connected to said pistonfor movement therewith, means on said carriage for actuating a loompicker upon, reciprocation of said carriage, fluid pressure supply meansand fluid pressure exhaust means for said cylinder, a valve controllingsaid supply means, operating, means for said valve operable in timedrelation to movement of said carriage, said. valve being spring urged toits closed position, and means operative upon movement of said, carriagea predetermined distance in one direction for moving said valve to itsopen position.

6. The combination of claim 1, including a latch ior retaining saidcarriage at one end of its path of travel, and operating means for saidvlatch operable in timed relation and by a power shaft of a loom. V

7. The combination of claim 1, wherein said carriage is slidable aboutsaid cylinder, said cylinderhas. external longitudinally-extendingguides, and said carriage isslida'bly retained upon said uides.

CHARLES G. SCOTT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED, STATES PATENTS

